1952 Topps #19 Johnny Bucha
About Johnny Bucha
John George Bucha was a right-handed catcher who signed with the St. Louis Cardinals organization as an 18-year-old in 1943, beginning his pro career with the Class B Interstate League's Allentown Wings in his Pennsylvania hometown. A durable receiver, he spent the bulk of a long career in the minors, ultimately appearing in more than 1,400 professional games (over 1,000 of them at the Triple-A level) across a playing span that reached into 1960. His major-league service came in three brief stints: he debuted with the Cardinals on May 2, 1948, returned to St. Louis in 1950, and finished with the Detroit Tigers in 1953 after being acquired by Detroit. In 84 big-league games he batted .205 with 40 hits, 10 doubles, 15 RBI, and a single home run, a September 9, 1953 shot off Harry Byrd at Connie Mack Stadium in an 8-2 Tigers win over the Philadelphia Athletics. Card #19 is his Topps rookie card, part of the low-number first series, and like other early 1952 Topps cards it exists with both black and red printing on the back. Born January 22, 1925, in Allentown, Bucha later became a mink farmer in Pennsylvania and died April 28, 1996, in Bethlehem.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Variations & how to tell them apart
Black Back / Red Back Series 1 (cards 1-80)
Every card in the first series exists with the back printed in either black or red ink. The black backs are the first printing and are scarcer; red backs (the second printing onward) are more common.
- Black Back — scarcer: First printing. Reverse printed in black ink. Scarcer, and typically carries a small premium over the red back.
- Red Back: Second printing onward. Reverse printed in red ink. The more common of the two.
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 611 | 0 | 2 | 28 | 69 | 110 | 142 | 255 | 5 |
| SGC | 101 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 27 | 62 | 4 |
SGC by variation: Black Back 52 · Red Back 49
Graded population — a scarcity guide, not a price. Snapshot 2026-06-22. Half-grades fold down (8.5→8); totals are summed across each grader's listed variations.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the 1952 Topps Johnny Bucha card?
It is card #19 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the St. Louis Cardinals player, and is his rookie card.
Does the 1952 Topps Johnny Bucha have back variations?
Yes. Every card in the first series exists with the back printed in either black or red ink. The black backs are the first printing and are scarcer; red backs (the second printing onward) are more common.
Is the 1952 Topps Johnny Bucha valuable?
Value depends on grade and (where it applies) the back variation. Use the links above to check current T206 Cards inventory and live eBay listings.
Sources: the Trading Card Database, Baseball-Reference, and PSA & SGC population reports. Card data & population compiled and maintained by T206Cards.com. Page last updated 2026-07-01.